waterfell: (mercury ♞ forward)
Mizuno Ami☿Mercury ([personal profile] waterfell) wrote in [community profile] onepassingnight2013-03-10 12:33 pm

Adventure Classic: Dungeon Crawling

From her vantage point, the entire countryside opened up before the priestess Mercury. Mountainous terrain spread from there to the horizon, dotted by caves and carpeted with forest. The broad vista took in a pristine landscape.

The beauty of the scene was marred only by the keening and noising of what might be animals, They sounded thick, and primal, and not as distant as a traveler might have preferred. Mercury faced in the direction of the noise anyway, noting it carefully, before she turned to return to her camp. More distant still, too distant to be seen, was her destination.

There was a long way to go yet, and there were many obstacles between her and her goal. Yet she had taken on this journey and quest willingly. The sign that her plans were favored were her healing powers. She was confident, in this bright morning, of her path.
forhiscause: (Default)

[personal profile] forhiscause 2013-03-25 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Cortana had gotten to her feet only to be overrun once-more by the beasts. She rolled out of the way as they aimed to step on her, blue eyes looking upward trying to find her staff in the dust storm those trampling feet were making. She knew better, how had she gotten in this position? The only reasoning behind it was that they were, in fact, targeting her. Specifically.

"Chief!" She exclaimed, trying to crawl out of the heap as a hand came up and gripped the back of her cloak. She tried blasting whatever it was away only to dropped and picked up by another. She felt herself leave the floor and before she knew it a baton came crashing at the back of her head making her limp in whatever lap she found herself in. "I-It was a trap chief...."

Unconscious or not, it only left someone to blame.
one_one_se7en: (Demon)

[personal profile] one_one_se7en 2013-03-25 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
His mind flashes with a similar scream in his waking reality. A god-like figure in armor that shaped itself, Cortana looking forlorn at him, and a terminal--

"Cortana!"

He wishes to run after her, without his team, but his mind immediately comes together when he knows he won't catch up with them without another of their animals. He could only see his closest companion held away by these monsters.

And he turns to Kanda.

He jolts towards the traitor with his shield up front, wanting to bash up on the floor and stab his throat, then cut him while he laid on the floor--

But he holds Ami first.

There are no words, no promises to let him live through an interrogation, or warnings that he would kill him if he hurt her. That man was a threat now, and didn't deserve to even receive a word. He would subdue him in any way he could, and that if he hurt Ami he would destroy him without any hesitation.

She is the only reason he doesn't kill him then and there.
decaying: (❀ Jᴜsᴛ ᴅɪᴇ)

[personal profile] decaying 2013-03-27 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
Kanda's idea had worked. He had hoped using Ami as a target would have halted Chief's wrath. He wasn't sure how much time he had but he wasn't going to let them attack him, not until he said what he had to say.

"Look, hear me out." He started, bringing his sword to Ami's neck pressing it gently lest she move out of his grip and he lose his flesh shield. "You're right, I sold her out. Truth be told, I've sold you both out. That place you're looking for doesn't exist. This was all a plot to kill the priestess and believe me when I say I don't want that but Cortana had to be taken."

She had to be sacrificed, that was the plan. Had she not fallen then Metallia would have figured it out and they wouldn't be able to destroy her.
one_one_se7en: (Grim)

[personal profile] one_one_se7en 2013-03-27 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
He ignores his offers for information. He was an enemy. For Kanda, Mercury was the only reason he was alive right now. He had sworn to protect her, and any way he hurt her would also mean John would take revenge on him.

It is only her word that guarantees his survival. Until she chooses otherwise.

He stays silent, his shield and blade following Kanda's head with an eerie precision. If Mercury bolted away the second the enemy freed her, that would mean there would be no reason to leave him free, let alone alive.
decaying: (Default)

[personal profile] decaying 2013-03-27 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Kanda gave a light sarcastic chuckle at the priestess's words. Let her go? As if he were that foolish to indulge her when she ran around with that brute of a knight. He gripped her tighter against him, his sword pressing a little firmer. Had she noticed, the blade was reversed. The sharp end wasn't clicing at her throat at all.

"Order him to stand down, priestess. Order him. If you want to save Cortana you're going to have to listen to me. We need her in order to kill Metallia."
one_one_se7en: (An angry tide)

[personal profile] one_one_se7en 2013-03-28 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
Kanda had already turned into an enemy the moment he betrayed them. His treason to gods falls into deaf ears when he mentions his intentions to kill Metalia, instead focusing still on his head to cut for all he did.

And yet he lowers his sword by Mercury's command. But not his shield nor his caution.

There is still a question lingering on his mind, that his body already spoke volumes on a single matter: Cortana. They had to get her back.
decaying: (❀ Small pause)

[personal profile] decaying 2013-03-28 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Kanda was expecting their reaction, perhaps the priestess would understand the implied contradictions in his words as he made it a point to continue his explanation. He didn't let go of Ami, at first. Not until most of his speech was out with. John was still a hazard.

"The energy you're searching for, there's a reason why it was concentrated at one spot. Metalia exists and she's plotting against this world. I know because I have been her servant long enough to know of her schemes.She wishes to engulf the world in darkness but by doing so, she has to expend a lot of energy. She's ordered her servants to steal it from the masses, the lives of the innocent, and when she heard about the power the priestess held she sent me to capture her and bring you to her in order for her to take whatever energy you had in store."

The blade that was pressing against Ami's neck was removed and with a smooth motion, he sheathed it, bringing himself backwards and onto a knee as he held his hands up in the air. John couldn't attack a surrendering enemy, now could he?

"My intentions before were to follow my commands but I can't. I can't do that anymore."

His tone was that of frustration. He was the best at what he did, the favored rogue of Metalia herself. Kanda had gone willingly to the queen of darkness and hadn't asked for anything, no power. All he wanted was for the queen to keep her promise about destroying the world, he wanted to see it burn. At least, that's how it used to be until the priestess came into his life. Although he still hated the world rather heavily, he didn't hate it as much to agree with Metalia anymore. She had to be destroyed.

"Cortana is still alive, she won't consume her energy until she has captured you two as well. She needs all the energy she can get in order to defeat the priestess and I need you to help me kill her. She had to be captured or else... or else Metalia would know that I was defying her orders. I have never failed a mission. She would be suspicious."
one_one_se7en: (Demon)

[personal profile] one_one_se7en 2013-03-29 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
He did not kill surrendering enemies. That is the code of the knight. But by Ami's order, he restrains him to listen to him as soon as she gives it. In spite of everything he felt -what every instinct dictated him to do-, he let him speak. Even the things of Metalia.

And when Mercury tells him their first concern, he lowers his head. Even if she hadn't given the order, he would have come for her.

When Ami gives him the following orders, of killing Kanda the second he so much as hinted about betraying their group yet again, he slowly nods. He is only to let him go if Mercury orders him so. Committing unnecessary cruelty was unbecoming, fitting more of barbarians than of knights.

And yet, this threat hurt Cortana.
decaying: (Default)

[personal profile] decaying 2013-03-30 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Kanda couldn't help but grin. So he had kept the big beast at bay. Perfect. He turned to the priestess and offered her a grin herself. He turned to look at John, the grip he had on him was tight. He could live with this, he was probably going to be under his sights for the rest of the trip. Not a bad thing.

"You won't be disappointed. After all, Metalia is planning on destroying the world. That wouldn't be good for anyone now would it?'

one_one_se7en: (Stare)

[personal profile] one_one_se7en 2013-03-30 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
In the second Ami nods to the knight, he moves a foot around Kanda's leg to break his stance and holds him by his torso and arm, to forbid him from fighting. For a second, he expected the Priestess' patience to have worn thin and chose to execute him, but he listens.

And watches dispassionately the injury inflicted over the traitor.

It would not be mortal. At most, some thoracic muscles could have been damaged, but they would be enough to keep the guise high. Turning again to see Mercury, however, made him wonder if there was a lot more in her actions than a tactical need.

Only by her order would she release Kanda.
decaying: (❀ Nᴏᴛ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛᴇᴅ)

[personal profile] decaying 2013-03-31 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
Her slices stung, his back gave several violent spasms as he doubled over. He hadn't been expecting her to do something like this but he figured he deserved it. A few nights of passion and a serious betrayal could definitely leave a woman scorned. He still couldn't help but grin.

"Now that's a different side of you I never thought I would see, priestess." He panted. Shit, his back was sore.
one_one_se7en: (Obscurity)

[personal profile] one_one_se7en 2013-03-31 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
From inside his helm, John's eyes turn to Ami as she asks the question. He was aware of when were some actions more for the unity and welfare of a group, and when was it for personal reasons. He knew Ami's reasons.

This was much more personal. His helm slightly moves in turn to see Ami, but he tightens his hold over Kanda as a warning.
decaying: (❀ In wait)

[personal profile] decaying 2013-03-31 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
The rogue gave a grunt at the tightening grip from the brute knight before turning his gaze on the priestess. He was well aware of the implication she was offering him to answer but he wouldn't indulge her. That subject was one he wouldn't touch until the deed was done.

"Metalia found me. Years ago. The life of a rogue is simple: take odd job to eat and keep moving. When I met her, I shared the same vision, I wanted the world to burn. She promised me if I helped her that she would make it real, that's exactly what she wanted to do: consume the world in darkness and death."

He wasn't going to explain the why's behind his hatred of the world, that was none of their business. His gaze eventually moved back to the ground.

"It's taken Metalia a long time to get as much energy as she has now and she believes that the priestess will provide the last bit of energy to consume the world. You three were just a job for me. You weren't the first I deceived, the first I led to their deaths, and I thought this would be a job like the others.... but it's not. I don't want the world to burn anymore, the only way to stop her is by killing her."
one_one_se7en: (Grim)

[personal profile] one_one_se7en 2013-04-01 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
The admission that he had betrayed a lot more teams than he expected is strange -- and it makes John even more hesitant to let him go. Even though he was a prisoner, this being deserved to rot in some prison without a single way out, constantly on watch, and on death row. Had he chose to remain fighting, end him...

... And turns to Ami with the order to release him. After a second, he obeys, almost pushing him, showing his back to tell him he is not afraid of him. If he is waiting to trap them, he will destroy everything in their path. That is the fate of his enemies.

As Ami and John walk together, the focus on Cortana continues to linger on his mind. The thought that she is in danger - and that freeing their prisoner could increase it.

"Why did you let him go?"
decaying: (Default)

/COUGH COUGH NO THERE IS NO HUGE GAP HERE...

[personal profile] decaying 2013-05-16 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
Kanda didn't normally allow others to kick him around but John was an exception. He knew what the man was capable of and quite personally, he wasn't to getting himself ripped apart because of it. He let him push him gritting his teeth as he left, injured and hurt.

He'd go to Metalia, he'd give her the sob story Ami expected, and he would play his role perfectly. He only hoped the other two didn't screw up. Metalia wasn't exactly some normal woman, they had to be very careful.
one_one_se7en: (An angry tide)

[personal profile] one_one_se7en 2013-05-16 07:36 am (UTC)(link)
The knight slowly turns to Mercury. Their rogue was indeed the best information to find Cortana, and he would have known better about what they would face. But they could barely trust him now, and the only way to feasibly make him help was by keeping him close.

"You just let a traitor go."

It's a warning. Traitors were the lowest of the low. Even knightly law was hardly merciful upon them. Someone that was willing to sell out their own side...